Obama Signs Child Nutrition Measure Aimed at Fighting Obesity

Dec. 13 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama signed into
law a measure to expand and make federal school meal programs
healthier and available to more children in an effort to combat
childhood hunger and obesity.

At an appearance at a Washington elementary school with
first lady Michelle Obama, who has taken on the cause of
encouraging healthier eating among children, the president said
obesity takes an economic toll on the U.S. In addition to the
greater costs for treating diseases associated with obesity,
such as high blood pressure and diabetes, students who have poor
nutrition don’t do as well in school, he said.

“This act is about doing what’s right for our children,”
Obama said to a group that included students, teachers, members
of Congress and administration officials at Harriet Tubman
Elementary School. “We need to make sure our kids have the
energy and the capacity to go toe to toe with any of their peers
around the world.”

The $4.5 billion “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act” will
expand the availability of school lunches and add more whole
grains, fruits and vegetables, and skim and low fat milk on the
menu at public schools.

Michelle Obama said the law aims to give children “a
healthy start in life.”

The law has national security implications as well, she
said, because one in four young people are rejected for military
service because they are overweight.

The Senate passed the bill in August and the House passed
it Dec. 2. It directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to
establish nutritional standards.

Making Choices

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a Dec. 10
conference call that his aim is to “make the healthy choice the
easiest and best choice” for school children.

The president pushed Congress to pass the legislation as
part of the first lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign, which has set
a goal of eliminating childhood obesity through exercise and
better nutrition.

In a statement the day the House passed the bill, Michelle
Obama called it “a groundbreaking piece of bipartisan
legislation.” She said it will “significantly improve the
quality of meals that children receive at school and will play
an integral role in our efforts to combat childhood obesity.”

Almost 20 percent of 6-to 11-year-olds were considered
obese in 2007-2008, according to a study by the Atlanta-based
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obese children are
more likely to have health issues like Type 2 diabetes and high
blood pressure according to the CDC.